JOBS and services at Croydon Council are to come under the most intense scrutiny yet as the ruling Tories embark on a major review of their spending.

The outline of what the Conservatives are dubbing their "Step Change" policy will be unveiled at a meeting of the council's cabinet on June 14.

Council bosses say everything comes under the microscope this year, at a time when government pressure on public service spending is to soar.

The policy will be sold largely as efficiency savings but already unions and Labour opposition councillors are predicting huge job losses and reductions in services.

Last week the Advertiser revealed details of a discussion paper which proposed cuts in overtime and weekend pay rates for staff in a bid to reduce the council's £209 million wage bill.

This week rumours circulating among town hall staff include plans to cut 50 per cent of posts in the health and adult social services field.

Fears have also been raised with the Advertiser about reductions in the park ranger service which it is claimed could lead to a cut in patrols, reducing the safety of people using the borough's open spaces.

Council leader Mike Fisher did not deny the severity of the problems facing the council.

He said: "As part of the Step Change programme we are looking at every area of council expenditure including services, the workforce and pay and conditions.

"But if people are suggesting things like we are cutting out every other person in some departments, this is not the way we are going about things.

"There is no culling of staff."

In the last year efficiency savings of more than £15 million were achieved, amounting to about four per cent from frontline service budgets and five per cent from backroom spending.

Councillor Fisher said: "This year the task is going to be even more challenging.

"We will be focusing on the way the council does business to see where we can make it more efficient and cost-effective."

Tony Newman, leader of the council's Labour opposition, believes that after losing seven seats in May's council elections, the Conservatives have no mandate to make swingeing cuts.

If the rumours about social services reductions were true, the borough's most vulnerable people would be hit, he said.

Cllr Newman added: "We have heard of staff being called into all sorts of meetings and being asked 'how can we do more for less and would you like to leave'."